Please accept as an ARTICLE SUBMISSION
One Reader's Concerns about Elderly Affairs
If I could speak to all of the people in town that have benefited from the Elderly Affairs Dept, here is what I would say. Please hear me out.
First and foremost, my belief is the overwhelming majority of the town thinks we should keep funding services for Elderly Affairs. When I retire, I hope I have access to this service if I should ever need it. I think it is a great idea and a great service. And the cost is by no means a budget buster. So I do not believe the notion that so many people want it to go away.
But there is a problem that many voters see. And the problem from our perspective is that the group in need of these services most is being taken advantage of and manipulated for their votes. Whenever the chief wants something voted in line with something that he wants, he calls in his "chits", and advises his elderly "clients" that his opponents of wanting to cut the Dept. of Elderly Affairs. This is designed to get all of those obligated to him to cast their votes in line with his position.
He did it again at Candidates Night 2007 when he accused two of the budget committee candidates of being against the Dept. of Elderly Affairs and led listeners to believe these two candidates wanted to cut funding for it. He has done this before. Think about it. Think about when he ran for election and scared elderly voters into thinking the town wanted to do away with the Elderly Affairs Dept unless he got elected. The fear tactic he used worked. The chief was elected and his subsequent misuse of taxpayer trust and taxpayer dollars that followed is all recorded on video tape, in the newspapers and in the courts. It got so bad the town overwhelmingly voted last year to prevent town employees from serving as elected officials again - to prevent future conflicts of interest.
Here is what I find troubling about having law enforcement run Elderly Affairs in town.
- If the motive of the Atkinson PD was in good faith, this would be a kind service to people in need. But there is no “free ride”.
But I see the trade off is a vote. Personally, I would not want to be obligated to any one person or organization for my vote, EVER. And then there are the “donations” that get solicited. I can’t imagine a more inappropriate thing than to have a police officer give a needy elderly person a ride (for “free”) and also solicit the same people for a donation to the PD. We have to face the fact that we are talking about some of our most vulnerable citizens, here. My hope is that no lines have been crossed but I am suspicious.
- It would be less problematic if all Elderly Affairs related information was available to the Selectmen for oversight. But under the guise of “confidentiality”, Selectmen do not know who uses the Elderly Affairs service, how often, where to, how many miles, how much time is taken by drivers, etc. etc. So we don’t know if anyone is abusing the service, including the PD. The whole town does not need to know this information as long as the Selectmen had oversight. Then it would not be an issue. But the chief has been asked and he refuses to provide this information. Why won’t he provide it? What is the big deal? I mean, he doesn’t have anything to hide, right? The reality is he does not want to give up his secret list of voters that he counts on for political support. Is he supposed to be running the PD or is he running a political organization?
- Nor do we know about the all of the donations – other than a few publicly stated items. Donations to any police officer must be publicly tracked as town funds. If not, as far as I am concerned, the “donation” becomes clouded. Again, the lack of Selectmen oversight and the chief’s refusal to cooperate and answer questions leave the chief looking guilty – even if he isn’t.
- Use of taxpayer funds for police run concerts and to send out greeting cards signed, not by the town, but by a person. I am sorry, but both you and I helped pay for the cards and the concerts and rides and everything else. For him to take all the credit for Elderly Affairs services is an insult to taxpayers who are footing the bill with our hard earned money. Time after time, he paints the taxpayers as the bad guys who want to eliminate Elderly Affairs and that he is the only hero that will save it. This is a classic manipulation game. As one of the people FUNDING this service, I feel like I am being slandered unfairly - just because I believe Elderly affairs should not be managed by our Police. That’s right, I think it should be managed by a town employee who has no political axes to grind. And town volunteers should be allowed to contribute their time and resources, if they so choose, which would help keep down costs. the chief would be free to volunteer his time if he wanted to. I don't think anyone would be against it. Now what is wrong with that idea? Salem Caregivers accept help from volunteers. But we are paying our PD to do it. Something is wrong with this picture.
- Law enforcement should be doing one and only one thing: enforcing the law. That is what we are paying them to do and that is all they should be doing. Anything other than police work on police time, in my opinion, is simply not in the taxpayer’s best interest. I could go on, here.
In summary, the Dept. of Elderly Affairs should not be run by law enforcement. It should be run by a town employee that is as disconnected from any political activities as possible. It should not be tied to our police or fire dept. or any other official type of organization or elected official. Why not consider the Recreation Dept? In general, that is what the budget committee candidates were saying. But they can’t come out and directly say it or the chief will pull out the scare card so that good, qualified people will be voted against for allegedly being “Against Elderly Affairs”.
That is the problem we see. I know the chief has established long term relationships with many of the people that use or have used the Elderly Affairs services. As a taxpayer, I feel like my contribution toward this service has been pushed aside and, personally, I am fed up with the whole charade.
I am disgusted and tired of seeing any law enforcement officials misuse their position of power and trust to manipulate elderly voters in OUR town. But don’t take my word for it. The next time he pulls out the “Scare Card”, listen carefully to what is being said or asked for…..because there is no such thing a free ride from the Atkinson Dept. of Elderly Affairs -as long as it is run by law enforcement.
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19 comments:
I do believe that everyone who is aware of this program is in support of the idea. I couldn't agree with you more with the fact that police officers should be fighting crime, not driving to walmart. This program should have it's own identity, away from anyone whom will use it to their own benifit.
I couldn't have said it better myself. Even the appearance of a conflict of interest must be avoided. We are way beyond appearances of conflict at this point. Where is the AG??
Another small factor to consider is that Plaistow refuses to provide backup/mutual aid to Atkinson police while Atkinson patrolmen are out doing elderly runs. You are on your own if something happens at that point.
The list of donors is public information according to the AG. He is required to provide it when it's requested.
Yes, I am a coward. I post on here anonymously so that I won't have to deal with the chief's vindictiveness.
But he has noone to blame but himself for all the question he is being asked. If he followed the rules, and kept everything out in the open, like he says he does, then nobody would have any grounds to question anything.
I think Elderly affairs needs to be separate from the police, and the community center is the only logical place. Then the police can concentrate on police work. And the elderly drivers, can concentrate on driving.
It would be a better service for all, and more open and honest than it has been.
May I say, I agree with 95% of what has been said in this thread, and the many before it.
Elderly Affairs needs to come out from under the PD.
The Chief shouldn't automatically assume he's the only candidate to run it.
Add you own.
More can be said, but until some new action is taken, by anybody, I think there is little more to add. It's been a fun read, I agree with it, but may I dare say, all that can be said on this topic, for the most part, has been said, many times in some cases.
If the BOS has been following this they certainly know the sentiment of the blog population. The challenge has been laid down by us, the AG and the ET. Fix it.
What I'm trying gently to say is, I'm not hearing anything new.
What would be nice, in my humble opinion, is more digging into the facts and their revelation. Public opinion is a strong force, facts put the nails in.
For instance, I'd like more specifics on the vehicles. Why Crown Vics? Are they equipped with the police package? Who actually receives the calls? Who does the dispatching? Is it really true that police officers are doing these elderly runs and not EA people? Can it be documented the Chief is doing EA work on PD time. Is it true that certain elderly residents are not allowed to take benefit of the Chief's EA services. What dirt does the Chief hold on Friel and Childs (if its public, it can no longer be used against them). You know, just the facts mam.
What I'm saying, this issue has been hashed to death. Lets now follow up with facts that we, the BOS, the AG and ET can sink their teeth into. If there is documentation, put it on the Taxpayers site.
Elderly cars are crown vics, with police package. At least some of them have blue lights, I dont know about radios. Phil has said many times that the drivers are not certified police officers. He has also said many times that only a certified officer may drive a police vehicle. God forbid, one of those cars gets into an accident flying up 93 at 80mph, with a little old lady in it, and it is clearly marked as a police vehicle, and the driver is not a certified officer. Talk about a lawsuit!
Good job on the article. One further point to the elderly voters who support the chief.
I also support the elderly program; I know what it is like to care for an elderly parent, so I'm thrilled for the people who get the services here in town. I would support funding this program with my vote, and my voice.
What I will NOT tolerate is Consentino's bullying and blackmail tactics and his successful attempts to use this program as insurance that he'll get his lackeys elected each year.
At this point, the chief is the ENEMY of this program; if he continues to try to control this money himself through his incestuous little non-profit without town oversite, I predict many in the town will stop supporting the program. Is this in the interests of the elderly of our town? Is it really so selfish of the townspeople to want their police chief focusing on law enforcement issues so that one of our children will not become kidnapped, and have the chief doing absolutely nothing about it for days?
We now have a chance to see if the chief really cares about our elderly; if he truly DOES care, he will support the town separating this office from the police and hiring a new manager, and keep the towns support for the program. Then he can actually work at being the police chief.
If the elderly program is really about getting votes, we will watch the chief whine, yell, and cry because he will be losing his influence in town.
Let's step back and watch.
A big man with a gun and a badge rings your door bell. You open the door and ask "is there a problem officer?" Big Man with Gun and Badge replies "I am soliciting donations for the elderly affairs PD fund. Before you answer, is your license and registration up to date? Did you get the permits for that new sink I see in your kitchen?"
Get my drift? There is inherent intimidation anytime any police officer solicits a "donation."
It should be a illegal for any police officer to solicit "donations" for any cause no matter how worthy it may seem. Before business owners are making "donations" to ensure that police response is not delayed when needed. It always escalates. Always.
Wouldn't you just love to hear recordings from inside the "elderly affairs transport" vehicle?
Strip away the semantics, and can anyone tell me the difference between;
1.) The Mafia collecting "protection" money from local business'?
2.) A robber with a gun asking you for your money?
3.) A Police Chief, who has a badge and a gun at his beck and call, asking for a donation?
Morally what is the difference?
There is still intimidation at work.
Is PC going door-to-door to collect donations with his gun and badge? I've lived in Atkinson for about 12 years and never had this type of solicitation.
Look, I completely disagree with the way the chief operates. However, there have been a lot of accusations on this thread that I find highly unlikely.
It is absurd to compare PC to the mafia. Likewise, I think it is absurd to compare him to a common thief. My gut instinct tells me Phil Consentino is not doing anything with the Elderly Affairs funds that benefits him personally. In my opinion, his biggest problem is that he prefers to operate as if it is still 1970 and he lets his ego get the better of him.
That said, he should cooperate with the town and state and implement a system in which there is better accountability and transparency. For all his grandstanding, this should not be too hard to do and, in the long run, he will benefit from it.
Chief, put everything out in the open. Until you do, it appears as if you have something to hide and this gets uglier by the day.
Atkinson finds a new town administrator
By Meghan Carey
mcarey@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON — After seven months without a permanent town administrator, a former Massachusetts state representative suddenly took over the job yesterday.
Selectmen met in nonpublic session at 7:30 a.m., with Steven Angelo of East Falmouth, Mass., to complete the negotiations before finalizing their decision last night, according to Chairman Paul Sullivan. Angelo started immediately.
Selectmen began their search in February after Town Administrator Russell McAllister left to work as a local government adviser in Iraq.
The board hired Craig Kleman on an interim basis in April, but he took a similar temporary job in Plaistow in mid-July. That left Atkinson without a finalist.
Selectmen stopped talking publicly about the search at that point, and didn't announce anything until yesterday.
Sullivan said the selectmen returned to their original applicant list this summer. They interviewed two candidates and, during Angelo's interview, Sullivan said the board members all knew he was who they wanted.
"(Angelo) brings a wealth of experience and he seems to have a nice way of dealing with people," Sullivan said.
He would not say how much Angelo will earn.
"We're going to leave salary as a personnel issue," Sullivan said. "That will come up at budget time. I do think he absolutely was a good value for the money, I really do."
Angelo, 56, served as a state representative in Saugus, Malden, Lynn and Lynnfield for 20 years, and chaired the Government Regulations and the Natural Resources and Agriculture joint committees for 12 of those years.
In 2003, Saugus selectmen asked him to serve as an interim town manager. Angelo said he loved the job, and signed on as the permanent manager six months later.
He also worked as the town manager in Winchester, Conn., before spending the last couple of years as the chief operating officer for a company that ran the Massachusetts Enhanced Emissions program for motor vehicles.
Angelo said yesterday his plans for Atkinson include increasing the general fund, keeping taxes low, and being accessible to residents.
Angelo hopes to set up specific hours for residents to drop by Town Hall to discuss their concerns. Outside of those hours, Angelo said he will be accessible by phone.
Although he has lived on Cape Cod for the last few years, Angelo is familiar with the area.
His brother, Lenny, has lived in Atkinson for 30 years. He also has family from Haverhill and Lawrence, Mass. He graduated from Merrimack College.
Angelo said he will move to the area soon and that his wife and 10-year-old son will relocate here at the end of the school year.
To 8:10 AM
Read the tally of expeditures vs. requests for withdrawals from the donation account. He's withdrawing money without permission and some of it goes to him personally.
Chief, You whine about people "attacking your good name and integrity" but YOU are giving them the ammo, by not putting everything out in the open, and by bullying your critics!
You have no one to blame but yourself.
There is no real difference between the chief calling or knocking on a door. The intimidation is still there.
I disagree. There is a mighty big difference between someone standing at your door with a gun asking for a donation and someone calling you on the phone asking for a donation. Put that up for a poll question and see what people would prefer.
I prefer neither scenario. Their solicitation is always intimidating.
especially given what happens to critics
I think we should create a warrant article that prevents Atkinson PD from soliciting donations for any reason in town.
That would fix the problem.
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